Tata Nano: India’s Cheapest One Lakh Rupee Car Launched

Ratan Tata has finally launched the one lakh rupee car ($2500 equivalent) in India called the NANO at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, which will be the cheapest fuel driven car in India and will provide an affordable car to millions of Indians.

Tata NANO – One Lakh Rupee Car in India

The Tata nano car will have a 624-cc petrol engine generating 33 bhp of power, a 30-litre fuel tank and 4-speed manual gearshift. The car has air conditioning, but no power steering, reclining seats or radio. The company claims mileage of 20 km per litre. It has passed the full frontal crash test, the offset and side-crash test to meet the international safety norms.

The Tata Nano is priced at about half the price of the current cheapest car, Maruti Suzuki 800, which has long been the favorite car of a whole generation of Indians who dream of buying a cheap car while upgrading from a motorbike or scooter.

Tata Press release says Mr. Ratan N. Tata unveiled the car and said

“Tata Motors engineers and designers gave their all for about four years to realise this goal. Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions. We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.”

World’s Cheapest car?

The TATA Nano car will be sold come in three variants of standard and two deluxe models with AC. The standard car would be available for Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom), with VAT and transportation costs are extra. At $2500 approx, it could be the cheapest car in the world. It is expected for commercial launch in the second half of 2008. A new Tata Nano website has gone live at where you can get more details.

For another green, environmentally friendly and cheap car deal, you might look at Reva, India’s first electric car (EV), a two door hatchback; 2 adults, 2 children; with a top speed of 65 kmph.